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[Upbeat Music]  

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NASA’s Laser Communications Relay Demonstration 

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(LCRD) is blasting off to space from Florida to prove

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we can communicate using lasers.

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LCRD will relay sample data, 

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like glimpses of planetary surfaces 

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or satellite health, 

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down to Earth over infrared lasers.

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Historically, NASA has used 

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radio waves to communicate. 

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When we landed on the Moon in 1969,

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Neil Armstrong’s 

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first words came across radio waves. 

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“That’s one

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small step for man, 

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one

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giant leap for mankind.”

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When we go back to the moon,

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we’re going to stay longer

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and explore more.

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With so many new and exciting things 

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happening on the Moon, 

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missions will need a better way to talk with Earth.

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That is where lasers come in.

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LCRD will demo 

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the vast capabilities of

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laser communications. 

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This includes transmitting 10 to 100 

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times more information to Earth 

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than is possible using radio systems 

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meaning missions can send

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more detailed photos, 

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videos, and data.

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When LCRD reaches its 

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destination, it will spend 

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two years conducting experiments that will 

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be developed by NASA 

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and our friends in industry and academia.

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LCRD’s

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first orbiting experimental 

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user will be the International Space Station.

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Astronauts

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live and work there, conducting 

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research about life in space, 

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microgravity, biology, and more.

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Using lasers, 

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the station will be able to relay 

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more experimental data 

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to scientists on Earth.

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Laser systems are great for missions 

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like the space station because they weigh less, 

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are smaller, and use less

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power than radio systems.

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A smaller size means more room 

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for science instruments. 

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Less weight means 

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a less expensive launch. 

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Less power means less drain 

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on the spacecraft’s batteries.

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LCRD and the space station 

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will work together and 

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demonstrate laser communications near Earth.

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This will help prove laser systems 

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are an option for our future expeditions 

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back to the Moon and then on to Mars.

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Join us and learn more at 

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nasa.gov/lasercomms

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